Our Approach

LK Family Law is a modern and approachable solicitors practice specialising in family law. We are based on the south coast in Emsworth and cover the surrounding counties of Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey.

“We always aim to provide clear and practical advice in a safe and friendly manner.”

~ Kristy Tidman, Founder/Solicitor

With specialist lawyers who have over 30 years of family experience you can feel in safe hands. We will always provide you with clear and practical advice. Our ethos is to make sure that as our client you will have all the options in order to make an informed choice as to how you wish to proceed.

The first 30 minutes of your first consultation with us will always be at no charge – we believe that it is important that you have absolute confidence in our services before we work with you. We think that you will find us to be compassionate, professional and able to offer you a personal service to achieve the best possible outcome for you and your family.

Lisa Carter

Director

Lisa has specialised in family law since 1989 when she began her training as a legal executive before qualifying as a solicitor in 1996. She has worked in well respected family teams in the south of England until she co-founded LK Family Law in 2013.

Lisa has a varied and comprehensive family practice and advises clients on all aspects of divorce and separation whether that relates to financial or child related matters.

Whilst Lisa helps her clients to settle their cases wherever possible outside of the court process she has a wealth of experience should formal action be needed.

Client focused and committed to helping her clients achieve fair solutions at a difficult time Lisa’s aim is to guide her clients through the available processes all the time offering practical, sensible and constructive advice empowering them to make wise choices. She trained as a collaborative lawyer in 2005 believing dispute resolution to be a positive option. Lisa is an accredited family specialist with resolution which sets a respected standard in the profession.

Lisa is also an accredited mediator and can meet with you and your partner together and will identify those issues you cannot agree on and help you to try and reach an agreement that you both feel comfortable with.

Kristy Tidman

Director

Kristy trained and qualified in London before moving to a local regional firm. Kristy wanted to be able to offer clients a bespoke service and therefore made the decision to be a co-founder of LK Family Law.

Kristy is a specialist family solicitor and deals with all family law aspects, is an accredited member of Resolution with particular specialisms in private children law and advanced financial provision.

Kristy is an accredited mediator and assists many couples with the issues surrounding their separation such as finances and/or the arrangements for the children. Kristy can offer the Mediation Information Assessment Meeting (MIAMS), which is a requirement that anybody wanted to go to court should attend, subject to some exceptions.

In addition Kristy is a trained collaborative lawyer which enables her to offer clients an alternative approach to a relationship breakdown and this means that each client gets to choose how they want their case dealt with so their best interests are met.

Kristy commits herself to resolving matters in a non-confrontational way and reaching child focused outcomes. With her practical, approachable manner and good negotiation skills clients can feel confident that Kristy will help them reach a fair conclusion through the non-court processes. However, she also understands that some cases require the intervention of the court, and is able to represent her clients in financial or children matters to obtain the best outcome possible.

Kelly Applegate

Solicitor

Kelly joined our team in February 2022 having qualified as a solicitor in the year 2000 as a specialist family solicitor. She has experience in all aspects of family law including:-
• Divorce
• Financial settlements following a Divorce
• Separation Agreements
• Children issues following separation
• Enforcement proceedings for both financial and children’s issues
• Domestic Abuse
• Pre and post nuptial agreements
• Cohabitation
Kelly took some time to raise her family and returned to the legal profession in 2016. She gained her Family Law Advanced Accreditation with the Law Society in 2018, specialising in private children law and domestic abuse.
Kelly approaches all her cases with sensitivity and care, providing expert advice and support from the beginning of the case to the end.
Kelly is a member of Resolution, committed to resolving family disputes in a constructive way.

Kate Maule

Legal Assistant

Kate joined our team in February 2020 from another local firm where she had worked for 18 years in the family department as a legal assistant. She is very experienced in all aspects of family law.

Kate provides support to Lisa and Kristy which includes assisting with clients, preparing documents and general administrative tasks.

In her free time Kate loves to read and socialise with friends and family.

Charlene Griffin

Legal Assistant

Charlene joined LK Family Law in January 2023 having worked at another local regional firm. Charlene is the first point of contact for clients and supports all team members.

Outside of the office Charlene enjoys keeping fit and running. Charlene completed the Great South Run in Portsmouth in October 2022.

Megan Wade

Trainee Solicitor

Megan joined our team in February 2023.

Megan graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2020 with a law degree and completed her legal practice course at the University of Law in Guildford where she received a distinction in her masters module on the new No Fault Divorce Law.

Megan joined LK Family Law in June 2022 as an admin assistant and started her Training Contract in February 2023. Megan has experience assisting Lisa and Kristy on matters involving divorce, financial agreements and children.

Megan understands family issues can be an uncertain and a worrying time but hopes to provide clarity and understanding during these times.

Outside of work, Megan enjoys training in the gym and going to the beach with her dog.

“At a time when I needed the courage to keep going you gave it, I will always remember that.”

~ Mrs M, Emsworth, Hampshire